Bird flu and Bernard Matthews

The latest reports indicate that the bid flu originated in partially processed turkey in Hungary. This, at least, has a modicum of logic behind how the infection got into "bio-secure" huts in the UK.

Not being an expert, it would seem the most likely explanation, but as the BBC report points out, it raises all kinds of questions about the Bernard Matthews operation.

This morning I heard Vince Cable MP tell Radio 4 that he would have concerns about eating turkey "if it bore the company logo". That's up there with Gerald "Crap" Ratner as the kiss of death for the company.

Be that as it may, but why, why, why is the taxpayer having to pick up the cost for the culling of Mr Matthews companys' failings? After all, he brought substandard products (unwittingly) which cost him his entire flock, and we are paying him for his lack of controls by refunding him for the loss of his livestock. What the hell does he have insurance for?

This is a waste of taxpayer money and a discouragement to producers to actually put in place proper bio-security measures to prevent this happening again. Instead, he can have a laise-faire
attitude safe in the knowledge that the Government will bail him out.